The St. Catherine of Sienna Academy Open House is from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20 at St. Catherine of Sienna Academy, 28200 Napier Road, Wixom. Mass will be celebrated at noon for those who would like to attend. St. Catherine's offers a solid Catholic mission with special emphasis on feminine dignity. Bring the whole family for a tour and treats. For more information, visit www.saintcatherineacademy.org or contact Antoinette Lloyd-Evans, Director of Admissions at 248-946-4856 or email alloydevans@saintcatherineacademy.org.

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-- Special writer

Ashley Young

NOVI

Art Van to host High Tea, High Art, Hijinks

Art Van Furniture of Novi is hosting High Style, High Tea and Hijinks with internationally-known interior designers, Kathryn Ireland and Martyn Lawrence Bullard of Bravo TV's "Million Dollar Decorators." The event is 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20. Guests will be able to ask questions and have their picture taken with the popular decorating duo. The furniture store is at 27775 Novi Road, Novi.

-- Staff writer Kathy Blake

Nominations for Employer Support Freedom Award sought

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, is encouraging all Guard and Reserve members to nominate their supportive employers for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the DoD's highest honor for civilian employers supporting Guard and Reserve members. The award highlights those employers going to extraordinary lengths to encourage their military employees' service. Family members may submit nominations on a Guardsman or Reservist's behalf. Employers of every size and industry are eligible. ESGR will accept nominations at www.FreedomAward.mil through Jan. 21. The 2013 recipients will be announced in early summer and honored in Washington, DC during a ceremony next fall.

-- Staff writer Kathy Blake

OAKLAND COUNTY

Izzo to represent Volunteers of America

Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo has chosen Volunteers of America Michigan as his charity to represent in the 2013 Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge. If Coach Izzo gets the most votes at the end of the six-week competition with 47 other coaches, Volunteers of America Michigan gets $100,000. For six weeks, the nation's top coaches will be counting on fans to vote for their favorite charity. Voting is split into regions, with Izzo in the Midwest Region where he faces some familiar Big 10 rivals. Top vote-getters in each region move on to the Final Four, with voting from Feb. 27 to March 10. After registering, participants can vote once each day by going to espn.com/infiniti.